The Steelers, who improved to 8-5, are getting to 10 wins, with trips to the Ravensand Browns -- who have just seven wins combined -- on the horizon. The only question is whether they can beat the Broncosin Pittsburgh next week -- and I think they can. Still, even if the Steelers run the table, and even if the Bengals have to start McCarron the rest of the way, I'm giving the edge to Cincy. Call it a scheduling gift from Santa. The Bengals will lose behind McCarron in Denver -- but they have enough talent on the roster to beat the 49ers next week and the Ravens in Week 17, which, given their current two-game lead in the division, means Cincinnati will take the AFC North, no matter what Pittsburgh does.

2) ... finish with a better record: the winner of the AFC South or NFC East?

The question for the Panthers is, will coach Ron Rivera want to rest his key starters in preparation for the playoffs? And as much as the Falcons have struggled, the Saints still have atrocious rankings in overall (31st in the NFL), passing (30th) and rushing defense (32nd).

That said, Carolina could still certainly go undefeated, and I could see New Orleans coach Sean Payton rallying his team one final time. (More on that later.)

4) ... pick first overall in the 2016 NFL Draft: Cleveland or Tennessee?

The Bengals are balanced and talented, and I like them to hang on in their division, but we simply have a bigger sample size of what Osweiler and the Broncos can do, with Denver going 3-1 in his four starts thus far. We know the Broncos can win with Osweiler. For that matter, we know the Broncos can win with even sub-optimal quarterback play, as they've done several times this season. Cincinnati, on the other hand, hasn't started anyone at quarterback besides Andy Dalton since Dalton was drafted in 2011, a stretch of 77 games.

Give me Watt (62 tackles, 13.5 sacks, five passes defensed) to win his second consecutive Defensive Player of the Year award (and his third in four seasons). He's been that great and instrumental in single-handedly turning around the Texans' season. Simply put, he's the best defensive player in the sport.

7) ... return their coach in 2016: the Rams or Saints?

Um, neither?

You might think of Jeff Fisher as Mr. 8-8 -- but his Rams haven't even hit that mark in any of his three previous seasons, and they'll be hard-pressed to reach it in 2015. St. Louis has recycled offensive coordinators, but the head man is 25-35-1 with the Rams, and that's an issue, especially when you consider how many high draft picks the team has had during Fisher's tenure (11 first- or second-round selections over the past four drafts). It's time for a break between franchise and head coach.

As for Sean Payton, he should always get credit for leading the Saints to their first and (thus far) only title in Super Bowl XLIV. But that happened six seasons ago. Payton's Saints are currently on track for their second consecutive sub-.500 finish, with a defense that has ranked among the worst in the NFL. The program has been in a decline. Both sides need a fresh start -- and Payton could potentially get one with the Miami Dolphins.

8) ... finish with more total yards: Cam Newton or Russell Wilson?

Both quarterbacks are having truly monstrous seasons, with Newton accounting for 3,542 total yards (3,062 passing, 480 rushing) and Wilson putting up 3,745 (3,289 passing, 456 rushing). Both players have been knocked for not being pocket passers in the past -- but both are dominating from the pocket this year. Newton made the Falconslook silly on Sunday, one week after an epic five-touchdown game against the Saints. Wilson followed up his domination of Minnesota in Week 13 by destroying Baltimore in Week 14, throwing five touchdown passes of his own.

Cam is the MVP. But his Panthers have already locked up their third straight NFC South title and a first-round bye in the playoffs. Wilson's Seahawks, on the other hand, are still fighting to secure a playoff spot -- and just lost running back Thomas Rawls for the season. So while both players are incredible to watch, Wilson will have more total yards.

9) ... have playoff success: Seattle or Arizona?

All the Seahawks have done recently is lay the wood to opposing teams ... and all the Arizona Cardinals do is win and show off their amazing top-to-bottom talent. Rawls' injury curbs the enthusiasm for Seattle a tad. Yes, the Cardinals' suffered their own injury at running back, with Chris Johnsonlanding on injured reserve in Week 12 -- but rookie David Johnson has stepped up since, recording 90-plus rushing yards and 120-plus yards from scrimmage in each of Arizona's past two games. And the rest of the Cardinals' roster is simply stacked, 1-53. While I acknowledge Seattle is primed to make another strong run, it's clearly Arizona.